Super insightful. This kind of mindset also causes paralysis amongst democrats, I feel like. Like you have to have a “perfect” cause and advocate that cause “perfectly” instead of taking what action you can with the resources available
Personally, I may have to count to 10,000 and for some "special" folks possibly higher. I take the point of your essay, do not disagree with your premise and agree that it ain't always easy.
But there are folks whom one can never find common ground with. Best to recognize that sometimes the biggest win will be to walk away and try again.
I’ve come to believe that many “political” issues are really just issues of manners. We call people by the names they wish to be called by. If it’s they/them, non-binary who cares. We treat all people with respect regardless of their ethnicity, sexual or gender identity. These became political issues because as they emerged in social settings, we forgot to remind people it was none of our business and/or basically unimportant when what matters is respect. And I say this as someone who is guilty of being intolerant of intolerance. Thank you for this piece
I appreciate the reminder that we are all only human, and our goal should be to speak with conversational clarity on a subject without rejecting other's opinions. I do believe we CAN do this and CONTINUE to stand up for our convictions. This is definitely a practice, as I think a lot of us will have to count to ten (or 100) before we respond, as there are triggers. Additionally, finding a middle ground with others does not mean we don't stand up for others, and with some individuals you may never find a middle ground.
Well said. Democrats need to focus on caste versus all the various identities. So many assumptions about who has privilege and who does not. For many of us coming from multiracial and multi class immigrant communities it is so off base. You are also right that America has a strong anti establishment bent. I don’t see things changing until we get a candidate that takes a bat to it and ends up winning the 75% of us who have had enough
Struggling with this very thing. Trying to build a coalition in our rural community and seeing how one group censors another. It's maddening. But right now I want unity so badly that I am willing to try to please everybody. However, the people who came together to fight for democracy might walk away because their efforts are being stifled. It seems too late to negotiate our message! Thanks for the article. (I have struggled against this every since I got active with the local Dems last year. I won't quit striving for divergent opinions to be accepted - I truly believe in the big tent.)
Just remember, it's US versus the multi-million billionaire class, and THAT'S how we find common ground..., then we go from that common ground and EXPAND.
There are definitely some third rails when it comes to Democrats, a couple of which sank Harris in the last election, along with some House races we would have otherwise won. Being captured by special interests is something that doesn't only happen to Republicans.
I am so grateful to read this. We aren't as good with pluralism as we could be, and it seems like the more treacherous the situation, the more emotions are high, the less tolerance.
Yes! Don't dare make a suggestion to do anything differently in my very red FL county when attending a Dem party meeting. Looks of disdain will surely come your way as you are told that's not the way we do things. No wonder 70% of our party didn't bother to vote last election.
Thanks Keith. I have a hard time talking to people of opposite beliefs/politics. I get flustered and angry, and most of the time Id rather just walk away. To be honest, I am still really really angry about the election. So, idk if Ill ever *feel* better, but Id love to get better at talking to people.
I agree with you. The Dems are looking very corrupt (and cultish) to me, what with Hakeem Jeffries scooting off. to Silicon Valley to ask for $$. You know, money from the same tech bros. who are behind this coup attempt. The Dems are not going to get their shite together. Here's my thinking and opinion:
There are only two things that can control the masses -- hope and fear. (1) The LEWIS POWELL memo of 1972 [https://www.greenpeace.org/usa/the-lewis-powell-memo-corporate-blueprint-to-dominate-democracy/] (2) The corporations have been running this government in the background ever since, and the public has quietly accepted it, for years, especially since everybody gleefully adopted Neo-Liberalism with Reagan's two terms (1980-88). This included the Dems. This is when the coup really began, with the Citizens United SCOTUS decision in 1988 after eight years of Neo-Liberalism corrupting our government and getting the public used to their politicians amassing smalls fortunes by insider trading, if not outright bribes. (3) This continued to the Trump era beginning in 2016 and peaking with this living hell we are in right now -- when we elected a man who is diagnosed as a sociopathic malignant narcissist (an insane person) who also has dementia -- by a cadre of psychoanalysts. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlivH0Gu3Y4&t=6s&pp=ygUPc2hyaW5raW5nIHRydW1w] and [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2AAr4p18zk]
Half of the American people are terrified right now (MAGA). The other half have hope of a brighter future (Dems). Now imagine that you are a Machiavellian at the Federalist Society and you know all about the hope and fear trope. You now have open access to politicians and can "contribute" a ton of money. You go to GOP/MAGA and you groom them to be bad guys, to scare the public. This began in 1980 with the Reagan congress when GOP Senators and Reps got really salty with the public. (Remember how absolutely spiteful Newt Gingrich was?) You go to the Dems and groom them to never rock the boat, to be a moderating influence, to hold out hope for things like universal health care, to keep the filibuster in place (corporations love the filibuster because the Senate cannot pass anything -- like higher taxes.) The media have also been groomed by their corporate owners to soften or ignore news that casts a bad light on GOP/MAGA.
They have weaponized our Constitution against freedom and democracy. If we do not rise up NOW and take our government back -- hold a general labor strike, take to the streets in peaceful demonstration, throw a lot of sand in the gears -- then the oligarchs win and we become farm animals for sociopathic rich people. Are you OK with that?
Super insightful. This kind of mindset also causes paralysis amongst democrats, I feel like. Like you have to have a “perfect” cause and advocate that cause “perfectly” instead of taking what action you can with the resources available
Yes!!!! We need to fight the common enemy - republicans.
Thank you for that perspective Keith,
Personally, I may have to count to 10,000 and for some "special" folks possibly higher. I take the point of your essay, do not disagree with your premise and agree that it ain't always easy.
But there are folks whom one can never find common ground with. Best to recognize that sometimes the biggest win will be to walk away and try again.
I’ve come to believe that many “political” issues are really just issues of manners. We call people by the names they wish to be called by. If it’s they/them, non-binary who cares. We treat all people with respect regardless of their ethnicity, sexual or gender identity. These became political issues because as they emerged in social settings, we forgot to remind people it was none of our business and/or basically unimportant when what matters is respect. And I say this as someone who is guilty of being intolerant of intolerance. Thank you for this piece
I appreciate the reminder that we are all only human, and our goal should be to speak with conversational clarity on a subject without rejecting other's opinions. I do believe we CAN do this and CONTINUE to stand up for our convictions. This is definitely a practice, as I think a lot of us will have to count to ten (or 100) before we respond, as there are triggers. Additionally, finding a middle ground with others does not mean we don't stand up for others, and with some individuals you may never find a middle ground.
I would like to make this available for sharing "mega big ". STILL AO IMPORTANT TO BE MORE RESPECTFUL
Brilliant - Thank you
Well said. Democrats need to focus on caste versus all the various identities. So many assumptions about who has privilege and who does not. For many of us coming from multiracial and multi class immigrant communities it is so off base. You are also right that America has a strong anti establishment bent. I don’t see things changing until we get a candidate that takes a bat to it and ends up winning the 75% of us who have had enough
...very insightful. Thank you, Keith.
Great piece, Keith.
Good article. And, I agree.
Thank you for the scolding.....about my scolding.
Struggling with this very thing. Trying to build a coalition in our rural community and seeing how one group censors another. It's maddening. But right now I want unity so badly that I am willing to try to please everybody. However, the people who came together to fight for democracy might walk away because their efforts are being stifled. It seems too late to negotiate our message! Thanks for the article. (I have struggled against this every since I got active with the local Dems last year. I won't quit striving for divergent opinions to be accepted - I truly believe in the big tent.)
Just remember, it's US versus the multi-million billionaire class, and THAT'S how we find common ground..., then we go from that common ground and EXPAND.
There are definitely some third rails when it comes to Democrats, a couple of which sank Harris in the last election, along with some House races we would have otherwise won. Being captured by special interests is something that doesn't only happen to Republicans.
I am so grateful to read this. We aren't as good with pluralism as we could be, and it seems like the more treacherous the situation, the more emotions are high, the less tolerance.
Yes! Don't dare make a suggestion to do anything differently in my very red FL county when attending a Dem party meeting. Looks of disdain will surely come your way as you are told that's not the way we do things. No wonder 70% of our party didn't bother to vote last election.
Amen. Being heard is what we all want. But some people, the ignorant misguided and maladjusted, try to be heard by stifling others.
Thanks Keith. I have a hard time talking to people of opposite beliefs/politics. I get flustered and angry, and most of the time Id rather just walk away. To be honest, I am still really really angry about the election. So, idk if Ill ever *feel* better, but Id love to get better at talking to people.
I agree with you. The Dems are looking very corrupt (and cultish) to me, what with Hakeem Jeffries scooting off. to Silicon Valley to ask for $$. You know, money from the same tech bros. who are behind this coup attempt. The Dems are not going to get their shite together. Here's my thinking and opinion:
There are only two things that can control the masses -- hope and fear. (1) The LEWIS POWELL memo of 1972 [https://www.greenpeace.org/usa/the-lewis-powell-memo-corporate-blueprint-to-dominate-democracy/] (2) The corporations have been running this government in the background ever since, and the public has quietly accepted it, for years, especially since everybody gleefully adopted Neo-Liberalism with Reagan's two terms (1980-88). This included the Dems. This is when the coup really began, with the Citizens United SCOTUS decision in 1988 after eight years of Neo-Liberalism corrupting our government and getting the public used to their politicians amassing smalls fortunes by insider trading, if not outright bribes. (3) This continued to the Trump era beginning in 2016 and peaking with this living hell we are in right now -- when we elected a man who is diagnosed as a sociopathic malignant narcissist (an insane person) who also has dementia -- by a cadre of psychoanalysts. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlivH0Gu3Y4&t=6s&pp=ygUPc2hyaW5raW5nIHRydW1w] and [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2AAr4p18zk]
Half of the American people are terrified right now (MAGA). The other half have hope of a brighter future (Dems). Now imagine that you are a Machiavellian at the Federalist Society and you know all about the hope and fear trope. You now have open access to politicians and can "contribute" a ton of money. You go to GOP/MAGA and you groom them to be bad guys, to scare the public. This began in 1980 with the Reagan congress when GOP Senators and Reps got really salty with the public. (Remember how absolutely spiteful Newt Gingrich was?) You go to the Dems and groom them to never rock the boat, to be a moderating influence, to hold out hope for things like universal health care, to keep the filibuster in place (corporations love the filibuster because the Senate cannot pass anything -- like higher taxes.) The media have also been groomed by their corporate owners to soften or ignore news that casts a bad light on GOP/MAGA.
They have weaponized our Constitution against freedom and democracy. If we do not rise up NOW and take our government back -- hold a general labor strike, take to the streets in peaceful demonstration, throw a lot of sand in the gears -- then the oligarchs win and we become farm animals for sociopathic rich people. Are you OK with that?